Answer:
Given that sin(θ) = 8/17 and tan(θ) < 0, we can use the trigonometric identity to find cos(θ).
Since sin(θ) = opposite/hypotenuse, we can assign a value of 8 to the opposite side and a value of 17 to the hypotenuse.
Let's assume that θ is an angle in the second quadrant, where sin(θ) is positive and tan(θ) is negative.
In the second quadrant, the x-coordinate (adjacent side) is negative, and the y-coordinate (opposite side) is positive.
Using the Pythagorean theorem, we can find the length of the adjacent side:
adjacent^2 = hypotenuse^2 - opposite^2
adjacent^2 = 17^2 - 8^2
adjacent^2 = 289 - 64
adjacent^2 = 225
adjacent = √225
adjacent = 15
Therefore, the length of the adjacent side is 15.
Now we can calculate cos(θ) using the ratio of adjacent/hypotenuse:
cos(θ) = adjacent/hypotenuse
cos(θ) = 15/17
So, cos(θ) = 15/17.